Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith (Comrie)

Description

Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith is the ripe and mature expression of Alexander Comrie’s warm, Christ-centered, and experiential ministry. In fourteen chapters, he presents a multifaceted scriptural exposition of saving faith and its various exercises, a work in which he consistently exhorts struggling and established believers to embrace Christ and all His benefits. His overarching aim is to promote the simplicity of the gospel. Explore the infinite value of faith and the God-given means of uniting an infinitely rich and precious Christ and a bankrupt sinner.  

Contents

Introduction

Translator’s Preface

Biographical Account

1. Faith, a Grace That Unites the Soul Most Intimately to Christ
2. Faith, a Grace Whereby the Soul Is Justified
3. Faith, a Grace That Purifies the Soul
4. Faith, a Grace That Esteems Jesus Christ Very Highly
5. Faith, a Grace That Causes the Soul to Enter into True Rest
6. Faith, a Grace That Overcomes the World
7. Faith, a Grace That Will Be Tried
8. Faith, a Grace That Will Render the Heart Submissive and Patient before God, Even Though His Promises Are Not Fulfilled Immediately
9. Faith, a Grace That Causes One to Approach the Throne of Grace in Full Assurance to Receive Grace and Help in Time of Need
10. Faith, a Grace That Will Be Sealed
11. Faith, a Grace That Sustains the Life of the Christian
12. Faith, a Grace That Yields Daily Justification
13. Faith, a Grace That Is Exercised in Darkness
14. Faith, a Grace That Feeds upon the Promises

Scripture Index

Subject Index

Endorsements

“Every reader of Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith will soon discover why a book written in Dutch by an eighteenth-century Scot has been translated into English by a twenty-first-century North American. For here is spiritual gold mined from the ministry of the remarkable Alexander Comrie.

“Comrie’s name appears only occasionally on the radar of English-speaking theological students, and largely because of his distinctive (although by no means unique) views of the relationship between justification and regeneration, faith, and assurance. His views are represented in these pages for us to read and consider firsthand (always the best way to assess an author’s views). But they appear in the context of such extraordinarily rich exposition and pastoral application that even those who do not share Comrie’s theological nuances will be wonderfully enriched. And while Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith was originally written for Christians in general, I suspect that pastors in particular will find that Comrie provides considerable help for their private ministry and stimulation and, indeed, inspiration for their preaching.  Bartel Elshout deserves our grateful thanks for enabling non-Dutch speakers (of whom there are not a few) to appreciate the spiritually rich work of a Scottish-born Dutch master.”

—Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

“The classic Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith by Alexander Comrie has always been held in high esteem by God’s people. Comrie’s treatise merges the cream of the doctrine of faith from the churches in Scotland and the Netherlands. He knows how to connect the doctrine of the Scriptures to the experience of the believer. The focal point of his teaching is union with Christ. Jesus Christ formed in our hearts is the essence of Christianity. True faith unites us with Christ. This union is between a lost, ruined, penitent sinner and a merciful, complete, and willing Savior. When this precious Savior is united with a sinner, there will be a warm and intimate bond between them that produces the fruits of new life in Christ. How this true faith differs from a self-made and nominal faith in which the brokenness of heart and the knowledge of our misery is lacking! Comrie demonstrates that true faith has explicit distinguishing marks that serve to encourage struggling Christians and expose the empty, superfluous faith of our day. My wish is that the Lord will bless this book to you so that Paul’s confession of Christ being in us as the hope of glory may be an experiential reality for you.”

—Cornelis Harinck, pastor (emeritus) in the Reformed Congregations (Netherlands) since 1962

“Alexander Comrie’s Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith aims to direct souls in both a pastoral and discriminatory way to end in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Faith is a justifying grace that unites a sinner with Him. In fourteen treatises, or sermons, Comrie yearns to lead sinners to a believing embrace of Christ and to see God’s people live by true faith—a grace that rests and feeds on His promises as well as sanctifies and sustains the believer.”

—Adriaan C. Neele, president, professor of historical theology and homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

“The message of the Reformation was characterized by sola fide. In this work by Alexander Comrie, we see how faith functions, what its fruits are, and, above all, how it unites us with Christ. These inspiring sermons are food for the soul to deepen the life of grace. Warmly recommended!”

—Willem van Vlastuin, professor of theology and spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Free University of Amsterdam; and dean of the Restored Reformed Church Seminary

About the Authors

Alexander Comrie (1706–1774) was born in Perth, Scotland. As a youth, he was catechized by Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine and was greatly influenced by the writings of Thomas Boston. He moved to the Netherlands as a young man to work but eventually studied at the universities of Groningen and Leiden, where he was awarded a doctorate in philosophy.  He developed into an able preacher and served the parish of Woubrugge, where he was pastor for thirty-eight years.

Bartel Elshout is the pastor of the Kalamazoo Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has translated numerous Reformed works from Dutch to English, including Wilhelmus à Brakel’s The Christian’s Reasonable Service and Theodore VanderGroe’s The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death.

Joel R. Beeke is chancellor of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also serves as a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregations in Grand Rapids.